The week in Antigua was in the name of politics. We wouldn't work with any organization, but just talk and reflect upon our activities during the first three weeks. We ended up spending most of our time preparing for our little event in Guatemala City. We split into two groups. One decided to demonstrate agains the mining companies in Central America, while we chose to demonstrate agains the trade agreement TLC. We made a banner and some requisites for a small play we did in Parque Central in Guatemala City. When we arrived there was already a demonstration going on - so we just joined it and talked to the other demonstrators. It turned out they arrived every day at the same hour to provoke president Oscar Berger to deal with the run-away bank managers. These ran of with whole fortunes and ruined the banks in question and lefs thousands of families broke, and this happened just as the people were building up a faith in banking. The president refuses to compensate the victoms and persecute the guilty. As mentioned this action destroys the newly gained faith in the banks and the problem was visualized by the long lines of people wanting to close down their bank accounts (creating an even more unstaible economy and situation in the country.


In Antigua we had the opportunity to play tourists. We went to see some ruins, ate at restaurants and attended the touristy activities at night. During the week we also played many other games within the group with the purpose of becomming closer to one another, physically and mentally. We, the three Danes, further taught the Central American brigadists how to use a computer and the e-mail system. The rest of the time we spent evaluating the Brigade, the topics of the brigade and of course preparing for the play and demonstration in Guatemala City. It was unbelievable! After acting out our play about the TLC we had a chance to talk to our spectators who were very interested, but ignorant. It started some great discussions and debates, but we always hit a wall due to their certain perceptions, which we are unable to shake, even just a little. To do this we would have to mengle with their own foundation of being and their perception of the worldly order.

Fotos and explanations to your left!